Whether you’re a musician or an author, a dancer or a public speaker, an activist or just someone headed off on an adventure, the thought that strikes fear in the hearts of those hitting the road is what will happen if they get sick while away from home. No different than being sent home from the hospital as quickly as possible so you can convalesce with germs with which your body is familiar, going on tour exposes you to a variety of new germs your body may not be able to fight off successfully. So how do you go on tour and manage to give those unfamiliar germs the slip?
Prepare Ahead Of Time
It may sound silly to you but rest assured, you can prepare for the inevitable and block the potential fall out. First off, plan your schedule so it makes sense, with as little crisscrossing and backtracking as possible. Make sure the distances are reasonable to travel. Don’t for a minute believe that you can drive 6 or 7 hours a day and still be bright and alert for other activities that may be physically or mentally demanding. Know your car limits, both as a driver and as a passenger.
Cultivate a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise (even if it’s nothing more than a brisk daily walk), eating healthy foods (skipping the junk food aisle in favor of the produce aisle), drinking plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic, of course) and getting enough rest (between 6 and 8 hours each night). If you suffer from health issues, make sure you follow your doctor’s advice, and take any medication as directed.
Put together a personal First Aid kit with all the basics you may need while on tour. This includes, but is not limited to, pain and fever relievers, allergy medication, band-aids, gauze and tape, a small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, small scissors, tensor bandages, disinfectant (i.e. polysporin), and other similar items that are specific to your needs.
And repeat the successful travelers’ mantra: Cook it, boil it, peel it, or forget it.
Bad Habits Thrive Out There
It’s easy to fall into bad habits while on the road, but that doesn’t mean that a tour should be an excuse for letting bad habits creep in to an otherwise healthy lifestyle. You don’t have to default to a fast food diet supplemented by hotel vending machine food fare. I have yet to travel to any country where there isn’t a local grocery store where fresh fruit and vegetables and more that fall well within the travelers’ mantra cannot be found.
If you’re able to bring a small cooler with you, jump at the chance to do just that. Pack the cooler with healthy items, and eat while you’re traveling between locations. The benefit to this is that you’ll never find yourself overly hungry, making a beeline to the first fast food restaurant you see headed into town. Once you’ve checked into your hotel room, put any ice packs in the cooler in the hotel room fridge along with your food.
Bad Habits While Driving
It’s not just what you eat and drink that can cause problems while on the road. Bad posture can destroy an otherwise great tour. Bring along a small pillow or roll up a towel to support the lumbar region of your back. You may not appreciate it for the first 100 miles if you’re driving, but you’ll appreciate it 300 miles later when you pull into your destination for the day, and you’ll appreciate it every day after that.
If your car has cruise control, use it. Why? Your legs are going to need a break from being in one position for an extended period of time (not unlike the suggestion that air travelers get up and stretch their legs from time to time to prevent any blood clots from forming).
And watch for signs of drowsiness. If you find your peepers drooping, pull over at the next road side stopping station. Get out, stretch your legs, and make a decision about how far you can safely travel at that point. Getting somewhere late but all in one piece will always beat never getting there at all.
Enjoy The Adventure
Most of all, don’t forget to enjoy the adventure. Road trips shouldn’t be viewed as vehicular jail terms. Keep your digital camera at the ready and be prepared to pull over to get that shot of the sun setting in Missouri or the mountain goat on the mountainside in a park somewhere in Alberta. Take in a little local color by stopping at a farmer’s market or joining in on the festivities in a little town along the way that’s celebrating something special.
Even if this is a business tour, there’s no reason to take time to put up your feet and relax along the way. After all, if you were at home, you’d be taking time out to do just that from time to time as well.
Elyse Bruce
Elyse Bruce 